GC–MS PROFILING AND in silico ASSESSMENT OF THE in vitro ANTIPANCREATIC LIPASE ACTIVITY OF Ocimum gratissimum (SCENT LEAF) AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is a long-term metabolic condition that disrupts the normal regulation of glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism. Pancreatic lipase can contribute to diabetes by increasing the breakdown and absorption of dietary fats, which in turn raises free fatty acids in the bloodstream. These fatty acids cause lipotoxicity, damaging pancreatic β-cells and decreasing their ability to produce insulin. This study investigated the anti-pancreatic lipase potential of the aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum by identifying its phytochemical constituents through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and evaluating their molecular interactions with pancreatic lipase using in silico techniques. Results from the study showed the presence of twenty-seven (27) phytocompounds identified from the aqueous leaf extract of O. gratissimum using GC-MS technique. The most abundant phytocompounds from the plant were Supraene (17.71%), Glycerin (11.38%), 1,4-Dimethoxy-2,3-dimethylbenzene (8.07%), N-Butyl acetamide (7.11%), and Thymol (5.86%). To assess their anti-pancreatic lipase potential, all twenty-seven phytocompounds and the standard drug (Orlistat) were docked with pancreatic lipase to evaluate their binding interactions with the protein. Several of the bioactive compounds demonstrated stronger binding affinity with protein in comparism with the standard. However, α-Selinene (-6.5 kcal/mol), and β-Selinene (-7.1 kcal/mol), demonstrated the strongest binding interaction